Before Floyd Mayweather (left) can get to a potential fight with Manny Pacquiao, he has to face Miguel Cotto. Photo by Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

Mayweather says that he is looking to add another belt to his collection. Photo by Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

The Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto press tour arrived in Los Angeles last week at the Graumen’s Chinese Theatre with much pomp and pageantry. Both fighters were seated on stage in crush velvet gold trimmed chairs, as this event is being labeled, “Kings of the Ring.” In spite of all that, the biggest question that was on everyone’s mind was when is Mayweather going to fight Pacquiao.

Both Mayweather and Pacquiao have hurdles to leap over before that can happen. Namely Cotto and Timothy Bradley.

“Miguel Cotto is world class fighter who can never be taken lightly and continues to prove he is one of the best in boxing,” says Mayweather. “It will be a challenge for me to compete with him at this weight, but this is the type of test I thrive on and gives me the motivation to train harder. I have no doubt in my mind that my title belt collection will increase once again and Cotto’s reign as champion will come to an end on May 5.”

Mayweather has never shown a lack of confidence in himself in any contest that he’s ever faced, and he’s been in some real wars with people like the late Genaro Hernandez, Jose Luis Castillo, Diego Corrales, Carlos Baldomir, Ricky Hatton, and Oscar De La Hoya, whom he fought at jr. middleweight and captured the WBC title.

So going into this bout, Mayweather is in familiar territory at 154 pounds, although going against a guy like Cotto, he’s fighting someone who is solid puncher, and who can box pretty well too.

Mayweather is not taking Cotto lightly, although most observers believe that he is not on the same skill level as Mayweather. Nevertheless, this should be an exciting match and at the end of the day if all goes according to Mayweather’s plan, he should be in a position to finally fight Pacquiao.

This bout will take place in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and will be telecast live on HBO pay per view.

As for Pacquiao, he’s got an obstacle in front of him in Bradley, whom he’s set to fight on June 9 also in Las Vegas. This guy, most people think, could possibly beat Pacquiao. He has a professional record of 28-0 with 12 coming by way of knockout, and he’s slick, quick, fast, and can punch. And he has no lack of confidence in himself and what he feels he is capable of doing.

Pacquiao concedes that fighting Bradley is not going to be easy, and believes that he’s a formidable opponent. Bradley to his credit has wins over guys like Junior Witter, Kendall Holt, Nate Campbell, Lamont Peterson, Miguel Vasquez, and Devon Alexander just to name a few.

One of the biggest assets that Bradley possesses is that he is a superb counter puncher. And although Pacquiao is an explosive fighter, he’s had problems with counter punchers. Juan Manuel Marquez can attest to that, as they have fought each other three times in some memorable wars.

So this may not be a walk in the park for Pacquiao. But to his credit, he has knocked out 38 of his opponents in 57 bouts. Nevertheless, both Mayweather and Pacquiao are determined to beat their opponents, and leap over the hurdles that are in front of them. And if that turns out to be the case, then we could possibly see the two of them fight each other in the fall of this year, if they can work out the numbers and issues that could keep them from coming together.

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